Bomb blasts kill two Pakistani soldiers

ISLAMABAD: Two soldiers were killed Saturday in separate bomb blasts in a restive Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border, the military said.

The explosions took place in Bajaur tribal district, one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal regions, where troops have been battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

"Two soldiers embraced shahadat (martyrdom) in Bajur today in two different improvised explosive device blasts planted by terrorists along road side in Bara Kamangara area and near a Pakistani post on Pak-Afghan border respectively," the military said in a statement.

Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks but roadside bombs are often used by the Pakistani Taliban, who launched their insurgency in 2007.

More than 4,000 Pakistani police, paramilitaries and troops have lost their lives to Islamist militants since 2002.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government began negotiations with the TTP through intermediaries in February, with a ceasefire beginning March 1 but breaking down a month later. (AFP)